Jermaine Kearse used to talk about needing to focus more when he struggled with an irritating habit of dropping a few too many passes during his career at the University of Washington.

What few understood at the time is how literally Kearse meant those words.

Now entering his second year as a receiver with the Seahawks, Kearse feels comfortable enough to tell a little secret — he's needed glasses for years, and often wore contacts during games as a Husky.

No one outside the team knew, Kearse says. He doesn't use it as the entire excuse for why he would sometimes inexplicably drop an easy pass after having just turned in a highlight-reel grab.

But having spent some of his salary with the Seahawks to have Lasik eye surgery in February, he says the difference is noticeable.

"I don't really drop the ball as much anymore."

He said surgery "has helped a lot. I don't have to deal with my contacts being all blurry."

Sometimes, Kearse said, he played without contacts because he found them so bothersome. He says he now has 20-15 vision and finds himself seeing things he hadn't in years.

Pointing to a wall with writing on it about 20 feet away, he says, "I like to test myself now. I like reading things. I've never been able to read all of that before."

Maybe that will help Kearse see himself in a Seahawks uniform for another season, despite the fact that his position was upgraded greatly with the addition of Percy Harvin, as well as third-round draftee Chris Harper.

Kearse made the Seahawks last season as an undrafted free agent, playing in seven games and making three catches. He was on the field for 18 snaps in the memorable home win over the 49ers.

He figures to battle this season for one of the last spots at receiver, after Harvin, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin.